Manhole structure.



T. F. ODAY.

MANHOLE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED rmma, 1912.

Patented Oct. 21

THOMAS F. ODAY, 0F SOll/IERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MANHOLE STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ()ct. 21,1913.

Application filed February 23,1912. Serial No. 679,266.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. ODAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, Boston, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Manhole Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to improvements in manhole structures and more specifically to manhole cover frames. It happens frequently that the surfaceofthe roadway surrounding manholes is worn down, washed away or otherwise reduced in level owing to the exigencies oftraiiic and to the elements. As a consequence of this erosion it is necessary to render the surface of the roadway affected free from danger and inconvenience to passing vehicles as the manhole frame protrudes and constitutes an obstruction to rapid transportation. It has been difficult without great expense and inconvenience to remedy this defect by maintaining the manhole frame at a uniform level with the roadway.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, efiicient and inexpensive device pos sessing all the advantages of the manhole structures now in use but being in addition adjustable to various levels to conform to the surrounding surface of the roadway, and it is designed to fit flush with the roadway irrespectively ofthe inclination thereof and as often as the surface should succumb under heavy traiiic and descend to the level below the manhole frame, the latter may readily be depressed so as not to occupy a protruding position.

With the above and other objects in view my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction.

clearly shown in the drawings and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 7

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the respective views of Fig. 1, Fig. t is a detail View partly in sec-,

tion taker, on the line AA of Fig. 2 and showing the interior arrangement of the manhole frame, Fig. 5 is an elevation partly "in section of said bracket taken on line X;I of Fig. 3, and Fig.6 is a fragmental detail view of the manhole frame about to be described.

Referring to the drawings which are merely illustrative of my invention an annular member 1 having a bottom horizontal flange 2 resting on a concrete foundation 3 for the manhole proper is disposed in position so as to fit loosely into the opening 4: formed in the roadway 5, its upper peripheral edge being spaced below the top plane of said opening as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

Said annular member 1 is formed with a plurality of inwardly extending brackets, at least three being needed to-serve as a supporting means for the manhole frame. The flange 2 will fit into-the relatively larger space 6 formed in the roadbed 5 and disposed around the periphery of said flange is the convex annulus 7 having its upper end bearing against the lower cndof the member 8 composed of the body portion S) formed preferably flaring as at 10 and resting on the roadi'vay, and the depending fiange 11 engaging the surface of the roadbcd '5, said flange being spaced both from the surface of said annular member 1 and the flange 2 formed thereon so that it may be lowered when vertical adjustment is necessary to cause it to fit flush with the surface of the roadway. A lid 12 formed with a shoulder flange l3 fits into an opening let formed upon. the member 8, the flange resting upon the ledge 15 formed upon the latter, and the lid will be mused. to fit flush with the body portion 9 on the lid support 8.

Tile lid suppin't S is maintained at its proper level by means of jack screus 16 mounted in the brackets formed upon the member 8. Each of the ack screws is com posed of a spherical head 17 at one end and a-polysided portion 18 at the other end so that a wrench may be applied to said polysided part to turn the screw threads which extend for the greater distance of the shank of each ack screw to allow for the vertical movement of the lid support 8.

The jaclcscrews '16 work in nuts or sockets 19 the lower part'of each of which semi-cylindrical in contour, and said part ierges with an upper part 19 flaring at its end. The bracket in which each jack-screw is disposed is' formed with anupper transverse recess 21 whose-bottom part is semicylindrical to receive loosely; the semi-'cylin- 'dricaljpart of thenut 19. The nut 19, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 is preferably of a length equal to the width of the bracket 20 and is arranged tofill the recess 21 in Which it is loosely disposed; the upper part of the recess 21 is formed contiguous to the corresponding part of thenut with a surface 20' which also flares at its end. An annular space 18 isthus formed between the nut and adjacent surface of.-the bracket against the latter of which the upper part of the nut may contact when the lower part thereof is caused to swivel laterally of the bracket. The lugs 23 formed dependingly upon the body portion of the lid support are shaped to inclose the spherical heads of the jack,

screws and are in continuation of the dishshaped cavities 24 formed in said body portion into which cavities the spherical heads are moved against the inclined surface 25 designed to facilitate their passage. It'will be seen that each bracket is composed of the projecting surface 26 gradually narrowing toward its bottom to allow for the play of the jack'screws.

In mounting the jack screws uponv their supports, the spherical heads of the screws will first be moved into the seats formed by the lugs 23 and will be facilitated in their passage-by the inclined surface 25, the heads being inserted laterally, the nuts 19 having been screwed upon the jack screws will be inserted laterally into their recesses or, seats 21, said nuts being just enough smallerthan their seats to rock slightly backward and forward. In rocking laterally the nuts 19 will have their upper parts brought into engagement with the surface 20 throughout its full width. The nuts will also be held in contact "with the surface 20" at'one side or the other, when it is desired to diagofnally adjust the jack-screws for-a purpose The convex annulus 7 is designedib pre-. vent the'acces's ofdust and other impedito be described.- It should be noted that a substantially central flaring opening 22 is formed in each bracket 20 to enable the lower projecting end of each jack-screw to be accommodated in its diagonal'positi'on. The jack screws will be so, adjusted normally as to be effective in holding the lidsupport 8 flush with the surrounding surface of the road bed 5, as is shownclearly in Fig. 2.

ments into the space 6 for shoulddust-accumulate it would prevent the lowering of that it will be necessary todo'is to turn the jack screws "in their nuts in the, manner described, so as to-lower the lid support 8 untll the body ortion 9 thereof is in the position desire On hillsides and other inclined surfaces the manholeframemay be l rodswhereby they may for adjustably supporting said rods.

mounted in position by means of the jack screws by diagonally adjusting them inthe brackets 20, .the nuts 19 being swiveled in said brackets as the projecting shanks of said screws move out of vertical position against the walls of the opening 22; in this event' the form of the lid support need not be changed and may be fitted snugly in the roadbed at the desired inclination, the jack screws being disposed at higher level, which are to support .the upraised end of said support as shown clearly in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Further adjustment of the manhole frame is possible until the flange of the V so support 8 shall come to rest upon the horizontal flange of the memberl. v

'Numerou' modifications may-She resorted to in practice without departing in'principle gagenient with the bottom of said member,

and means mounted in said tubular member 2. In combination with a tubular-member countersunk in a road bed, and havinga top part fiushwith the latter, a lid removably supported on theupp'er end thereof, a plurality of dish shaped recesses formed at the inner surfaceof said top part, a plurality of rods having spherical portions disposed in said recesses, and means for ad ustably supporting said rods in said tubular member.

3. In combination, a tubular member countersunkrin a road bed and havlng a top part flush with the latter, a closure removably andloosely supported at the upper end thereof and disposed flush with the surface of said road bed, a plurality of dish shaped recesses formed at the inner surface of said top part, a plurality of rods having spherical portions mounted in said recesses, lugs depending from the sides of said recessessurrounding said portions, means for adj usttion, and means for enabling said rods to swivel laterally.

4;. A device of the character described comprising a tubular member countersunk in a roadbed and having a top part flush therewith, aclosure loosely fitting the up per end thereof and disposedfiush with the surface of said roadbed, the inner surface I of said top part. formed with a plurality of dish shaped recesses, a plurality of rods having enlarged heads. in said recesses,

lugs 'dependin cesses, means from the sides of said 're-' or verticallivj' supporting said e vertically and 1 15 ably supporting said rods in operative posi-I of said brac diagonally adjusted, and means for holding said rods in adjusted position.-

5. In combination with a tubular member countersunk in a road bed and having a top part flush therewith and formed with an exterior upper terminal flange, an inner flange surrounding an opening, a lid mount; ed loosely on said inner fl ange and adapted to fit flush with the surface of the road bed, a plurality of upright rods engaging the top of said member, means for supporting said rods mo ted in said member, means for vertically adjusting said rods, and means for allowing said rods to swivel lat erally. I

.65 In combination a tubular membercountersunk in a road bed and having a top part flush therewith, a lid loosely fitting at the upper end thereof and supported thereonto fit flush with the surface of said road bed, the under surface of said top part formed with a plurality of dish shaped recesses inclosed by depending lugs, a plurality of screw bolts formed with spherical portions mounted in said recesses, an annular member disposed in said tubular member, brackets mounted on the wall of said last named member, a curvilinear socket disposed in each of said brackets, into which each bolt is mounted, means for holding each of said bolts against vertical displacement and means for supporting said annular member.

7. In combination, a tubular member countersunk in a road bed and having a top part flush therewith, a lid loosely fitting on the upper end thereof and supported thereon to fit flush with the surface of said road bed, the inner surface of the toprof said member formed with a plurality of dish shaped recesses inclosed by dependin lugs, a plurality of screw bolts .forme with spherical portions mounted in said recesses, an annular member having a flange supported below said tubular member, brackets mounted on the wall 'of said last-named member, curvilinear internally screw threaded nuts en aging said screw bolts, each.

ets formed with a correspondmg transverse slot in which a socket is ldisposed, and poly-sided-portions formed at the free end of each of said screwbolts.

8. In combination a I countersunk in a road bed and having a top part flush therewith, a lid loosely fitting at the u ipe'r end thereof and supported thereon to t flush with the surface of said road bed, the inner surface of the top of said member formed with a plurality of dish-l shaped recesses inclosed by depending lugs,

tubular member a plurality of screw bolts formed with porof said latter member, brackets mounted on the wall of said last named member, a curvilinear nut disposed in each of said. brackets, into which each bolt is screwthreaded, means for holding each of said nuts against vertical displacement, spherical nuts in which said screw bolts are secured, said nutsbein removably mounted in said brackets to afj screw bolts, and poly-sided portions formed at the free ends of'said screw bolts.

9. In combination a tubular member countersunk in a road bed, and having a top flush therewith, a lid loosely fitting at the upper end thereof and supported thereon to fit flush with the surface of said road bed, the inner surface of the top of said member formed with a plurality of dish shaped 1'6.- cesses having inclined surfaces inclosed by depending lugs, a plurality'of screw bolts formed with spherical portions mounted in said recesses, an annular member fitting into and spaced below said first named member, brackets mounted on the wall-of said last named member, a curvilinear socket disosed in each of said brackets, each of said rackets formed with a transverse corresponding recess in which the lower portion of each socket is removably supported, a

flaring vertical opening formed upon each bracket communicating with its curvilinear recess, through which opening the screw bolt projects, the top and bottom planes of each of said recesses being of lesser width than thediameter of the'socket and polysided portions formed at the free end of each 0 said screw bolts.

10. A device as described consisting of a I manhole, a top supporting member thereovelti adjustable supports. carrled thereby, an T balls screwed to saidsupports and brackets having sockets for-saidv balls forming said carrying means. it v 11. In a manhole closure a frame, a lid,- and means whereof said frame may b'e-a'ngularly, vertically, and horizontally adjusted.

ustably support said In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

" THOMAS F. ODAY.

Witnesses:

, Wnarm H: STE S, FRANK J. D1LLON.-

copies Ofthll patent, heobtal ned for five-cents each, by addressing-1 the. commissioner latentl, walhin'gtomuc." 

